This is Halloween

       During my childhood my family did not celebrate Halloween. We would spend our Halloween nights at a family fun night at our church. As I got older the church event became childish and boring, and often times I would sneak out with my friends and we would trick-or-treat around the block. When the church event stopped, due to lack of interest, my mom very reluctantly let me trick-or-treat twice in my life with friends in grade eight and grade nine. 

       To my family Halloween is seen as a day that people use to celebrate the devil and demons. If you look back on its origins, you may find just that, as well as many different traditions such as All Hallow's Eve. I know many Christians that celebrate Halloween, so it's not fair to classify it as just a chance for people to "worship demons". I believe that if you are going out to trick-or-treat there is nothing wrong with that. But I would also agree that simply trick-or-treating is not only thing that occurs on Halloween. 
       Many people involved in witchcraft and other things, use Halloween as a time to celebrate their beliefs. In my opinion people should be allowed to practice their beliefs freely, and I think that Halloween is a time for people practicing witchcraft to have a chance to have more of a celebration. Although I do not agree with the practice of witchcraft and demon worshiping, as long as their practices do not harm or hurt people I have no problem with them using Halloween for their celebration day. 

         As people get older Halloween becomes more of a time to party and dress up in slutty costumes for attention. Costume companies use Halloween as a time to sell people inappropriate costumes to young women, and every year it gets harder and harder to find a costume that does not prove provocative or degrading. I remember being shocked when one of my friends wanted to dress up as a Playboy bunny at age 13. Now it has become so normal though. But it is not just "slutty" costumes that are the problem, many people in general are dressing up in racially offensive costumes. It may seem like a funny joke, but it can be taken the wrong way, and it can show your character. People who dress up as if they have no respect for themselves or others will gain no respect from their peers in the long run. 

       Another side of Halloween is one that the Spanish practice on the first and second of November and it is called "Dia de los Muertos" which is the day of the dead. People in Mexico use this time to celebrate those who have died, maybe recently in their families, or just in general. The holiday mainly focuses on the gathering of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have dies. Being half Mexican I know a lot about this tradition, and although my direct family does not celebrate it, many of my family members in Mexico partake in this holiday. 

       So however you choose to partake in Halloween, or if you choose not to participate, it is up to you. There are many different types of people who celebrate it in their own ways. whether it is used for simple family fun, cultic worshiping, or celebrating those who have walked the earth before us, it is up to you to figure out what it means to you. For me Halloween is a chance for people to express themselves in a pressure free way, and of course receive free candy!